Tentative Surgery Date Set at House/St. Vincent

[lrobie]

Hi All,

After a few phone calls and emails, I have tentatively scheduled my surgery at House/St. Vincent for July 18th.  I finally heard back from the insurance contact at House.  Everything was good there.  Then she tells me that St. Vincent and the anesthesiologist bill you separately, so I could check to make sure they take BC/BS if I wanted to.  Tried to call St. Vincent's and after being transferred a few times, either the person hung up on me or we were disconnected.  I gave up.  I'm just hoping that they will accept my insurance.

I'm sure I'm going to have even more questions now.  Oh, I just thought of one.  How will I know when to schedule my flight home?  Does the post-op appointment get scheduled as well?  Okay, that's two questions.   

I'm actually feeling very good about my decision.  I know now that I will be waiting 2 1/2 months, but that will just give me more time to prepare.

I want to thank all of you for your input and answers to my questions.  It has truly helped me to get through this.

Lisa

[CHD63]

Hi Lisa .....

So glad you have made your decision and the ball is rolling for a July 18th surgery date.  Usually a tremendous weight is lifted when you know the what/where/when.  Hope so for you, at least.

I was told to schedule my flight home no sooner than 10 days post-op, but they also assured me they had the necessary airline forms to complete in the unlikely event we needed to postpone our return.  We flew home 11 days post-op with no problems.  Typically at HEI your post-op visit with your doctor for stitch removal is day 7 or 8 and they schedule that for you.  No other follow-up is generally recommended or needed until one year post-op.  Dr. Friedman told me they would contact me to remind me I needed an MRI and audiogram.  I simply had to call them to send the orders and have both done locally and send CD and audiogram results to him ..... no need for another trip to LA.

Clarice

[New girl]

Hi Lisa,

Congrats on making a decision!    If I lived on the west coast I would have definately gone there for surgery.  Best wishes!

[mindyandy]

Hi Lisa
Waiting is the hardest part. They take BC/BS they will call you later to explain deductibles etc.
After surgery when you get released from the hospital is when you call to make your post op appointments. They will remind you on your post hospital paperwork.

[Archer]

Lisa,
I am just out of St. Vincent this week.  All went well.  Just so you know, I called my Insurance Rep prior to coming out here to House to ask if the Dr., the Hospital, and Anesthesiologist were participants in Blue Cross insurance.  They answered all my questions and only took 5 minutes.  They were a great help.  You may want to call them.  They will want you to understand all that is involved in the process.

Good luck,  I have now been through two surgeries for ANs and will swear the House Dr.s are the best.  You can't find better.  You will be in good hands.

Rich

[lrobie]

Rich,

So glad to hear things went well with your decompression surgery.  That's what it was, correct?  I will make the call to my insurance company tomorrow.  That would have probably saved me the frustration of trying to get the answers from the facilities.

Good luck on your journey to wellness.

Lisa

[Suu]

G'day Lisa

Just popped in to wish you luck and best wishes.  You 'sound' so positive and upbeat and that's a bonus while waiting.

Cheers,
Suu xxoo